The halls of Niskayuna’s middle schools may sound a bit more melodic this year.
Students in music programs at Van Antwerp and Iroquois middle schools are excelling thanks to new dedicated spaces and the integration of band, chorus and orchestra into their daily schedules.
In previous years, middle school band, chorus and orchestra took place before the regular school day began. Band and orchestra students rehearsed at Niskayuna High School before the first bell, and chorus practice was held at each middle school before the school day started. Early practices were the result of inadequate space and not enough time during the school day for music instruction.
As part of the district’s ongoing reimagination of middle level education, a revised script is being developed for student musical education opportunities. The addition of a state-of-the-art music suite at Iroquois, combined with the integration of ensembles into the daily schedule at both buildings, is making music opportunities more equitable and accessible. Van Antwerp’s space will also be transformed. Work associated with the music suites at both schools was overwhelmingly approved by voters in two capital project referendums in 2021 and 2024, and aligns with the district’s goal of designing and implementing high quality educational programs for all students.
“The modifications we have made to the Niskayuna middle level music program are building an environment where opportunities for music education are more accessible and equitable for all of our students,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction Jessica Moore. “The increased participation we are seeing over the past five years is inspiring, and we look forward to these young musicians filling the stage in our higher level ensembles as they continue to participate in the arts.”
The shift to school day instruction in both middle schools is already contributing to increased participation rates in music programs.
“Chorus is during the school day now and that improved enrollment tremendously,” said Director of Music Education Eric Hughes. “It immediately improved our retention numbers from previous years and now that they’re meeting every other day, they’re also getting more instruction time throughout the year.”
The new music suite at Iroquois, which opened this fall, features two general music classrooms, an integrated instrument storage area, lesson rooms connected directly to the ensemble room, an instrument cleaning station and acoustic ceiling sound panels.
A similar space is currently under construction at Van Antwerp and is expected to be complete before the 2027-28 school year when the district welcomes all grades 5-6 students to the renovated school.
School day instruction has allowed both students and teachers to thrive this year. The dedicated music suite is equipped with modern instructional technologies that teachers like Iroquois string orchestra teacher Stacey McClenon is using.
“We can use the technology, which we didn’t have at the high school. There, we rehearsed on stage…” said McClenon. “I always have the Promethean board on and we always have a countdown to what time we’re going to start our first note.”
Students are also enjoying the new music suite and shift to school day instruction, including seventh grade viola player Alexcya Polk.
“In the morning, we were all tired, and now we’re not,” said Polk. “We’re learning better and can focus more easily.”
In addition to arriving at class well rested, students are also benefiting from the modern equipment in the music suite.
“It’s better because there’s a big music room here and it’s a lot easier to hear the sounds with the sound panels on the ceiling,” said seventh grader Annabelle Lyons.
The shift to school day instruction has also attracted new students to the program that weren’t previously participating due to the early morning schedule.
More students in grades 6-8 are participating in music programs
The new music suite at Iroquois and having music classes during the school day have driven a significant increase in music program participation among students in grades 6-8.
Since the 2021-22 school year, middle school band participation has increased by 90%, choir by 143% and orchestra by 82%. The growth in music programs at the middle school level also extended to performing ensembles, where participation increased 105% over the last five years.
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